Rangefinder for a start-stop telegraph selector



Dec. 31, 1968 c ET AL 3,418,856

RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Sheet Filed Dec.

Dec. 31, 1968 R|c|ARD| ET AL 3,418,856

RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet2 INVENTORS GIUSEPPE RICCIARDI BRUNO SANDRONE United States atnt C3,418,856 RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR GiuseppeRicciardi and Bruno Sandrone, Ivrea, Italy, as-

signors to lug. C. Olivetti 81 C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a

corporation of Italy Filed Dec. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 599,313 Claimspriority, application Italy, Dec. 24, 1965, 31,637 6 Claims. (Cl. 741.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a telegraph selector wherein the codelevers controlled by the receiving cam shaft are fulcrumed on themachine frame, a stop lever is pivoted on a first plate which ismanually rotatable on the cam shaft to adjust the stop position thereof.An arm of the stop lever is engageable by an intermediate member and inturn is engaged by an arm of a release lever which is controlled by astationary selector magnet. The intermediate member is carried by asecond plate coaxial with the first plate and is rotated thereby throughdifferential gears maintaining a constant ratio between the effectivelengths of the two arms irrespectively of the stop position.

This invention relates to a rangefinder for a startstop telegraphselector having a cyclically operable receiver shaft for sequentiallycontrolling a plurality of selecting elements according to a codecombination received by a receiving magnet, and a Stop lever fornormally stopping said shaft in a stop position and conditionable tocause one cycle of said shaft upon operation of a release levercontrolled by said magnet, said rangefinder comprising a first supportrotata-bly mounting said stop lever and manually settable in a variableposition for adjusting the stop position of said shaft with respect tosaid selecting elements.

Several rangefinders of the above type are already known. In a knownrangefinder a set of receiving cams are secured to a sleeve, the angularposition of which with respect to the receiving shaft may be adjusted bymeans of a helical slot provided on the sleeve and cooperating with anelement secured to the shaft, whereby both said slot and said elementsare subject to remarkable wear.

In another known rangefinder, the stop position of the receiver shaftmay be altered by displacing the stop lever with respect to the releaselever, the action of which on the stop lever becomes thus altered.

In a further known rangefinder, the release lever is directly actuatedby the armature of the receiving magnet and is displaceable with respectthereto. The armature is provided with a laterally bent edge adapted toengage an edge of the release lever which is laterally bent oppositelythe edge of the armature. Therefore, the fulcrum of the magnet armatureand the fulcrum of the release lever may be subject to lateral forces,whereby the selector is not reliable in operation.

All the above disadvantages are obviated by the range finder accordingto the invention which is characterized by an intermedate memberengageable by an arm of said release lever and adapted to engage an armof said stop lever for conditioning said stop lever in such a manner asto maintain a substantially constant ratio between the effective lengthof said arms irrespectively of the position of said support, saidrelease lever being fulcrumed on a stationary pivot.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description of a 3,418,856 Patented Dec. 31, 1968preferred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left hand longitudinal sectional vew of a start-stoptelegraph receiving selector embodying a rangefinder according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial transverse view of the selector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken according to the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken according to the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

The rangefin-der is embodied in a start-stop telegraph receivingselector comprising a receiver cam shaft 7 (FIG. 1) adapted to becyclically rotated clockwise upon receiving each code combination. Moreparticularly, the shaft 7 is adapted to be driven through a frictonjoint, generically indicated by the numberal 8 (FIG. 2), by a toothedwheel 9 rotatably mounted on the shaft 7. The wheel 9 meshes with apinion 11, which is driven in a known manner by an electric motor notshown in the drawings.

Furthermore, secured to the shaft 7 is an arm 12 (FIG. 1) latched in astop position by a lag 13 of a stop lever 14 fulcrumed on a pivot 15.The lever 14 is normally urged by a spring 16 to contact a cylindricalhub 17 integral with a lever 18 fulcrumed on a pivot 19. Secured to theshaft 7 is a plurality of cams 20 angularly shifted so as tosequentially control a corresponding plurality of selecting levers 21fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 22. The levers 21 are individuallyadapted to locate a plurality of receiver code bars 23 in one of a pairof positions in a manner known per se, according to the code combinationsignals received by a conventional receiving electromagnet 24. Theelectromagnet 24 is normally energized to hold an armature 26 fulcrumedon a stationary pivot 27 in the position of FIG. 1, against the urge ofa spring 28.

Fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 32 is a strip element or lever 31provided with an arm 30 normally urged by a spring 29 to contact thearmature 26, the spring 28 prevailing over the spring 29. Fulcrumed on astationary shaft 37 is a release lever 36 provided with a pin 38normally urged by a spring 39 to contact a shoulder 41 of the lever 31.

An intermediate member, comprising a pin 43 rotatably mounting a roller46 and secured to the lever 18, is provided between the stop lever 14and the release lever 36. More particularly, the pin 43 engages anarcuate slot 42 provided on an arm 40 of the lever 36, whereas theroller 46 is adapted to cooperate with an arcuate edge 47 of an arm 45of the lever 14. When the shaft 7 is in the stop position shown in FIG.1, the slot 42 of the arm 40 and the edge 47 of the arm 45 areconcentric with the shaft 7. The length of the arm 40 is defined by thecontacting point of the slot 42 with the pin 43, whereas the effectivelength of the arm 45 is defined by the contacting point of the edge 47with the roller 46. In the position shown in the drawings the ratio ofthe lengths of the two arms 40 and 45 is 1:35.

Fulcrumed on the pivot 15 is also a restoring lever 48 connected to thelever 14 by the spring 16, which normally urges the lever 48 to contacta cam 49 (FIG. 4) secured to the shaft 7. The lower arm of the lever 48is provided with an arcuate edge 50 adapted to cooperate with the roller46.

Upon receiving the start signal of the code combination, theelectromagnet 24 (FIG. 1) is deenergized, whereby the spring 28 rocksthe armature 26 clockwise. The armature 26 engaging the arm 30 rocks thelever 31 counterclockwise, thus tripping the pin 38 of the release lever36. Then the spring 39 rocks the lever 36 clockwise until the pin 38 isarrested by a shoulder 44 of the lever 31. The arm 40, through the pin43, rocks the lever 18 counterclockwise, thus causing the roller 46 toengage the edge 47 of the arm 45. The lever 14 is thus rockedcounterclockwise and releases the arm 12 from the lug 13.

The shaft 7 is now driven by the toothed wheel 9 (FIG. 2) through thefriction joint 8 to effect a one revolution cycle. During this cycle thelever 31 (FIG. 1) is held in the rocked position by the pin 38 of thelever 36. Near the end of the cycle the stop signal is received andenergizes the electromagnet 24, whereby the armature 26 is reset.Simultaneously, the cam 49 (FIG. 4) positively returns the lever 48clockwise, thus tensioning the spring 16, which rocks the stop lever 14and brings the lug 13 (FIG. 1) into the path of the arm 12. In turn theedge 50 of the lever 48 engages the roller 46, whereby the pin 43through the slot 42 returns the lever 36 counterclockwise. Now thespring 29 rocks the lever 31 clock Wise, thus relatching the pin 38 inthe position shown in FIG. 1.

In order to adjust the relative position between the cams 20 and thelevers 21, the pivot of the lever 14 is secured to a first supportformed of a plate 51 (FIG. 3) rotatably mounted on a stationary sleeve52, in turn rotatably mounting the shaft 7. The plate 51 is integralwith a toothed sector 53 meshing with a pinion 54 rotatably and axiallyslidable on a shaft 55 secured to a stationary plate 56.

The pinion 54 is provided with a projection 57 adapted to engage theends of the sector 53 to determine the two end angular positions of thepinion 54. This latter is secured to a rotatable knob 58, having a scaleadapted to be read in correspondence of a pointer 59 (FIG. 2) secured tothe stationary plate 56. Furthermore, the pinion 54 is provided with aninternally knurled bevel portion 61 normally urged by a compressionspring 63 located between the knob 58 and the plate 56, to engage acorresponding knurled bevel portion 62.

The pivot 19 (FIG. 1) of the lever 18 is secured to a second supportformed of a disk 66 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 52. Secured to theplate 66 is a pivot 67 (FIG. 3) rotatably mounting a planet wheel 68 ofa group of differential gears, comprising also a sun gear 69 integralwith the plate 51 and a stationary gear formed of a toothed edge 71 ofthe plate 56, both said gears meshing simultaneously with the wheel 68.The ratio between the diameter of the gear 69 and the gear 71 is 1:1.4.

In FIG. 1 the cams are located in the farthest position counterclockwisewith respect to the levers 21. If, due to the characteristics of theline, the code signals are received with a certain lead with respect tothe start signal, the cams 20 must be approached to the levers 21. Tothis end the knob 58 (FIG. 2) is first pushed axially together with thepinion 54, which disengages the knurled portion 62 from the knurledportion 61.

The knob 58 (FIG. 3) is then rotated counterclockwise a predeterminedangle corresponding to the lead of the signals, whereby the pinion 54through the sector 53 causes the plate 51 to be rotated clockwise apredetermined number of steps of the gear 69. The plate 51 rotates alsothe pivot 15 together with the levers 14 and 48 (FIG. 4) and, since thefriction joint 8 (FIG. 2) always urges the shaft 7 (FIG. 1) clockwise,the shaft 7 is now rotated till the arm 12 contacts again the lug 13 ofthe lever 14. Therefore the stop position of the shaft 7 is altered andthe relative position of the cams 20 with respect to the levers 21 isaccordingly adjusted.

The plate 51 (FIG. 3) when so rotated, through the sun gear 69, rotatesthe wheel 68 counterclockwise about the pivot 67. Then the wheel 68rolls on the toothed edge 71, thus causing the pivot 67 to be displacedtogether with the disk 66 clockwise a number of steps half saidpredetermined number. Therefore the pivot 67 is displaced through astroke which is half the stroke effected by the plate 51. Due to thedifferent diameters of the gears 69 and 71, the ratio between the anglecovered by the disk '66 with respect to the stationary plate 56 and theangle covered by the plate 51 with respect to he disk 66 is 1: 1.4.

In turn the disk 66 displaces clockwise the lever 18 (FIG. 1) togetherwith the pin 43 and the roller 46. The effective lengths of the arm 40,the arm 45 and the arm 50 (FIG. 4) are increased proportionally to theangle covered by the disk 66, and to the angle covered by the plate 51with respect to the disk '66 (FIG. 3), that is these lengths areincreased as to maintain a substantially constant ratio between theeffective lengths of the arms.

In effect, since the initial ratio of the lengths of the arms 46' and 45is 121.35 and the ratio between the above angles is 1:1.4, the geometriclength of the arms 45 and 50 is increased more than the amount requiredto have the constant ratio. However, since the arms 40 and 45 arearcuate, in order to have a constant effect of the action transmitted bythe lever 36 to the lever 14, the length of the arm 45 needs to beincreased more than the amount required to have a constant ratio.

Similarly, in the case the plate 51 has been rotated clockwise withrespect to the position of FIG. 3 and the code signals are received witha certain delay with respect to the start signal, the knob 58 must berotated clockwise. Now the pinion 54 rotates the plate 51counterclockwise, and the plate 51 through the wheel 68 rotates the disk66 in the same direction according to the diameters of the gears 69 and71, thus shortening the effective lengths of the arms 40, 45 and 50(FIG. 4) an amount proportional to the angles covered by the disk 66 andrespectively by the plate 51 with respect to the disk 66.

It is thus clear that the intermediate member 43, 46 is engageable bythe arm 40 of the release lever 36 and is adapted to engage an arm 45 ofthe stop lever 14 for conditioning the stop lever 14 to cause one cycleof the shaft 7 in such a manner as to maintain a constant ratio betweenthe effective length of the arms 40 and 45, irrespectively of theposition of the support 51, thus making sure that in each angularposition of the plate 51 the release torque imparted by the lever 36 tothe lever 14 remains constant.

The receiver is adapted to operate at different speeds, for example at astandard speed of 50 code unit intervals per second, called baudsaccording to the recommendation of The International Telegraph andTelephone Consultative Committee, or at a higher speed of the bands or100 bauds. In order to make sure that the armature 26 (FIG. 1) of theelectromagnet 24 is restored to the stop position independently of thereceived electric stop signal, the receiver is provided with a resetlever 72 (FIG. 4) rotatable and axially slidable on a pin 73 carried bythe disk 66. The lever 72 is normally urged by a spring 74 to contactthe end of a notch 76 (FIG. 2) provided on a lever 77. This latter ispivoted on a stationary shaft 78 and is adapted to be manually rockedclockwise for causing the receiver to operate at the higher speed. Thelever 77 is normally held in each one of two positions by a spring urgedlocking member 79 fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 80.

The lever 72 is provided with a pin 81 (FIG. 4) adapted to cooperatewith a cam 82, but normally located to the right of the cam 82 (FIG. 2).Furthermore the lever 72 is provided with an arcuate arm 83 (FIG. 4)adapted to cooperate with a pin 84 of a lever 86, but normally locatedto the right of the pin 84 (FIG. 2). The lever 86 (FIG. 4) is fulcrumedon the shaft 37 and is normally urged by a spring 88 to contact astationary pin 87. Finally, the lever 86 is provided with a pin 89adapted to cooperate with a projection 90 of the lever 31.

When the lever 77 is manually rocked clockwise (FIG. 2), on one hand thereceiver is caused to operate at the higher speed in a known manner, onthe other hand the lever 72 is axially shifted along the pin 73 to theposition shown in FIG. 2 by broken lines, whereby the lever 72 bringsthe pin 81 into the plane of the cam 82 and the arm 83 in correspondencewith the pin 84 of the lever 86. Now, near the end of each cycle of theshaft 7, the cam 82 (FIG. 4) rocks the lever 72 clockwise. The arm 83 ofthe lever 72 engages the pin 84, thus rocking the lever 86counterclockwise. The pin 89 of the lever 86 engages the projection 90,thus rocking the lever 31 clockwise. Consequently the arm 30 positivelyrestores the armature 26 (FIG. 1) of the magnet 24 to the stop positionshown in the drawings.

What we claim is:

1. In a start-stop telegraph selector having a frame, a cyclicallyoperable receiver shaft, a stationary receiving magnet, a plurality ofselecting elements adapted to be sequentially controlled by said shaftaccording to a code combination received by said magnet, a release leveradapted to be rocked under the control of said magnet, and a stop levernormally stopping said shaft in a stop position and conditionable bysaid release lever when so rocked to cause one cycle of said shaft, arange finder comprising a support having a first pivot rotatablymounting said stop lever and manually settable in a variable positionWithin a predetermined range for adjusting the stop position of saidshaft with respect to said selecting elements, wherein the improvementcomprises:

(a) a second pivot secured to said frame and pivotally mounting saidrelease lever;

(b) a driving arm on said release lever;

(c) a driven arm on said stop lever;

(d) an intermediate member engaged by said driving arm and adapted toengage said driven arm;

(e) and connecting means for connecting said support and saidintermediate member so as to cause said intermediate member to engagesaid arms in such a manner as to maintain a substantially constant ratiobetween the effective lengths of said arms irrespectively of theposition of said support within said predetermined range.

2. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 1, wherein saidarms are substantially mutually parallel and are oppositely directed,comprising in combination:

(f) a second variably settable support rotatably mounting saidintermediate member;

(g) and differential gears comprised in said connecting means andadapted to displace said second support simultaneously with said firstsupport through strokes having substantially said constant ratio.

3. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to cliam 2, comprisingin combination:

(h) means for rotatably mounting said first and second support coaxiallyon said shaft,

(i) a stationary gear comprised in said differential gear,

(j) a sun gear comprised in said differential gear and bodily movablewith the one of said supports,

(k) and a planet gear comprised in said differential gears and rotatablymounted on the other of said supports, said planet gear simultaneouslymeshing with said stationary gear and said sun gear.

4. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 3, comprisingin combination:

(1) a toothed sector bodily movable with one of said supports;

(m) a pinion for rotating said toothed sector,

(n) a manipulative knob secured to said pinion and axially displaceabletherewith,

(o) a stationary knurled bevel portion secured to said frame,

(p) and a complementary knurled bevel portion on said pinion normallyengaged with said stationary knurled bevel portion under the urge of aspring, said knob being axially displaced for disengaging saidcomplementary knurled bevel portion from said stationary knurled bevelportion.

5. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 1, comprisingin combination:

(f) a trip element normally latching said release lever,

(g) an armature controlled by said magnet for operating said tripelement to trip said release lever,

(h) a restoring lever rotatably mounted on said first pivot,

(i) and a cam secured to said shaft for cyclically actuating saidintermediate member via the restoring lever to latch said release leverwith said trip element and to cause said stop lever to be restored.

6. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 5, wherein saidshaft is operated at a predetermined speed, comprising in combination:

(1) a rotatably mounted, normally inactive reset lever for said tripelement,

(k) a second cam on said shaft for displacing said trip element via saidreset lever so as to reset said armature and relatch said release lever,

(l) and a manually settable speed control member for rendering saidreset lever active for operation by said second cam if said speedcontrol member is set for said shaft to operate at a higher speed thansaid predetermined speed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner.

